Public Transport and Driving in Morocco

Although Morocco seems a world away from our home countries, it is able to offer comparable travel options, largely due to the influence of former French rule.
Railways
The new train station at Tangier was built by the French and, true to French repute, it is remarkably efficient, perhaps even better than back home!
Trains in Morocco are very comfortable and fairly inexpensive. The state owned network, ONCF, connects a limited network of routes, but for travel between major cities they are an excellent option. Trains are reliable, comfortable, fast, and efficient.
Reservations for tickets can only be made for first class journeys.
Supratours: is a bus company owned by the rail network, to cover the areas east of the Atlas mountains and south of Marrakech, which are not yet served by the train network.

Buses connect smoothly to intercity trains. Tickets for combined train and bus journeys are sold in one package, known as "Rail & Route".
All train stations have clear signs and displays in Arabic and French to help you find your way around. Platform displays also indicate expected delays.
Larger stations are well served by other forms of public transport, such as local buses and city cabs.

Train etiquette: Moroccans are very sociable and courteous when they travel and it's easy to strike up a conversation. You’ll find your fellow train passengers are happy to share food and sweets.
Smoking is not allowed on Moroccan trains, though many people smoke in the corridor of the train car. On cars that do not have a corridor, it's considered rude to smoke.
Safety: Moroccan trains and railway stations are reasonably safe. However, like everywhere in the world they are a magnet for petty criminals. So be vigilant, use your common sense remember:
- Do not leave your luggage unattended in stations or on trains
- Keep your tickets, passport, money and credit cards in a safe place away from the rest of your luggage
- Be extra careful with your bags when boarding and leaving a train amongst a crowd of people
- Do not sit or sleep alone in a compartment,
Some travellers have reported problems with touts, particularly on trains to and from Fez. If you have trouble, the railway staff will assist you. Police are helpful and present at most train stations.
Air
Flight connections to Morocco are very good and transfers to the rest of the country are equally efficient.

Airports are being upgraded and new ones built, eg. at Tangier. An ‘Open skies agreement’ was recently signed ahead of the 2007 schedule and Monarch, Ryan Air and Easy Jet have all been rumoured to have signed up to Tangier and Tetouan airports.
Deals Available:
GB Airways, part of BA, have just announced that it will fly to Tangier shortly for 169 pounds return. Thompson also announce they will fly to Agadir for only 29 pounds each way and Atlas Blue flies to Morocco for 60 pounds return.
These deals will begin accelerating in 2006, as Morocco is still an untested market for the budget airlines, yet less than 3 hours from the UK. It will also put pressure on the flag carrier, Royal Air Maroc, to follow suit and it has recently committed to increasing its fleet by 50 per cent in 2007.
Tetouan, about 1 hour’s drive west of Tangiers, has an international airport that is little used, but the large hotel groups, Club Med, Sofitel, Accor in the area have been lobbying the governor to open it up more regularly as it is currently being used for internal flights only.
Casablanca airport serves as the nerve knot for domestic flights, with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) as its carrier. Local flights are expensive, but save a lot of time.

Bus
Buses are usually the cheapest form of transport and they do regular routes to almost anywhere in Morocco. They are also a safer and more comfortable option, rather than taxis.
Morocco's intercity bus transport is privately run. There are many companies with widely varying degrees of size, comfort, punctuality, safety and service. Most companies only operate routes in a particular region.
The three main bus companies in Morocco are:
- CTM - Formerly state-owned, but now a private company listed on the Casablanca stock exchange. It is the only bus operator that covers the whole country.
- SATAS - Agadir-based company. Operates mainly south of its home town, but also between Casablanca, Marrakech and Agadir.
- Supratours - Owned by the railway company ONCF.

Routes supplement the train network to destinations south of Marrakech and to the northern cities of Tetouan and Nador. Tickets must be bought at a railway station.
Whenever you have the choice, you would be advised to us one of these three companies. Other operators may be slightly cheaper, but they can't beat the big three in comfort and maintenance of their fleet.
Tickets are sold at bus terminals and you can get them until moments before the bus leaves. It's recommended to get tickets a few hours in advance to be sure the bus isn't fully booked.
If you're boarding a bus somewhere along its route, get your tickets at least a day in advance.
As soon as you set foot in a bus terminal, you will be surrounded by "courtiers" (French for "brokers"). These men know the bus routes and timetables by heart and can be extremely useful.